Iraq pullout would be like handing it over to terrorists: Bush

WASHINGTON: Warning that pulling out US troops from Iraq would amount to handing it over to terrorists, President George W Bush has rejected reports of a possible civil war there and pledged not to leave the war-torn country "until victory is achieved."

 

"Some politicians say our best option is to pull out of Iraq, regardless of the situation on the ground. Many of these people are sincere and patriotic but they could not be more wrong," he said in his weekly radio address aired on Saturday.

 

"If America were to pull out before Iraq can defend itself, the consequences would be disastrous. We would be handing Iraq over to the terrorists, giving them a base of operations and huge oil riches to fund their ambitions."

 

"And we know exactly where those ambitions lead. If we give up the fight in the streets of Baghdad, we will face the terrorists in the streets of our own cities. The security of the civilized world depends on victory in the war on terror, and that depends on victory in Iraq, so America will not leave until victory is achieved," he said.

 

Despite reports, including one by Pentatgon on Friday, that the country was at risk of civil war, Bush said, "our commanders and diplomats on the ground believe that Iraq has not descended into a civil war."

 

"They report that only a small number of Iraqis are engaged in sectarian violence, while the overwhelming majority wants peace and a normal life in a unified country," he added.

 

In its report, Pentagon had said "conditions that could lead to civil war exist in Iraq, specifically in and around Baghdad and concern about civil war within the Iraqi civilian population has increased in recent months."

 

Bush said, "America will stand with the Iraqi people as they protect their new freedom -- and build a democracy that can govern itself, sustain itself, and defend itself."

 

US policy in Middle East was a "straight forward choice" between allowing the region to continue on the course that led to September 11, 2001 terror attacks or rallying the world to confront the "ideology of hate" and supporting forces of moderation and liberty, he said. "And that is the choice America has made."

 

"The path to victory will be uphill and uneven, and it will require more patience and sacrifice from our Nation. Yet we can be confident of the outcome, because America will not waver," the President added.

 

Bush said that since the time of 9/11, the US has taken the "fight to the enemy" but argued that the war on terror was more than a military conflict--it is the "decisive" ideological struggle of the 21st century.

 

"On one side are those who believe in freedom and moderation -- the right of all people to speak, worship, and live in liberty. On the other side are those driven by tyranny and extremism -- the right of a self-appointed few to impose their fanatical views on all the rest," he said.

 

"We did not ask for this war, but we're answering history's call with confidence -- and we will prevail".

 

Bush emphasised that America was deploying "every element of national power" to defeat the terrorists such as staying on the offensive, warning nations not to harbour terrorists and launching a "bold new agenda" to defeat the ideology of the enemy by supporting forces of freedom.

 

"The terrorists understand the threat a democratic Iraq poses to their cause, so they've been fighting a bloody campaign of sectarian violence, which they hope will plunge that country into a civil war," he said.